Sample Coach's Contract?

by **Zeuslax** on Fri Aug 18, 2006 1:49 pm

I was wondering how teams went about developing contracts and payment for coaches they wanted to hire. Also, for payment, how do organizations work that into the contract? 1/2 up front and the other 1/2 at the end of the season? Have some provided their coaches with total sum divided monthly? Stipends? I know some have alumni boards that handle the hiring and negotiations. Others have student run boards and still others have the head coach handle responsibilities. I think I saw one posting that stated that their coaches were hired by the schools club sports department?

What were some of the procedures and techniques employed that some thought were successful?

**Sponsor**

by **John Paul** on Sat Aug 19, 2006 9:17 am

One word of caution: Some teams use a contract between the coach and the current players. This is a difficult situation, since the coach is essentially working for the players he is supposed to be in charge of (often including cuts). Conflict of interest.

The best situation, obviously, is if a coach is hired and paid by the school. It's rare at our level, but it happens.

Next best is if the team has an outside booster club or alumni board that hires and pays (and fires, if necessary), the coach.

by **John Westfall** on Sat Aug 19, 2006 6:53 pm

I have coached at five different schools in 12 years. New Mexico, Colorado School of Mines, South Carolina, Winthrop and Liberty. Each place I had a contract, most of the time with the Club Sports Department to follow School rules and regs. At Winthrop and at Liberty I had a Contract through Student Activities but in time both Schools developed a Club Sports department. I answered to the Club Sports department eventually and signed a contract through the newly formed Club Sports department.

John

by **GrayBear** on Sun Aug 20, 2006 2:33 pm

In agreement with Coach Paul. Where possible, set up a not for profit corporation that will survive any change of player/coach regime--alumni are a good source for members but not the only one. The coach should, ideally, not be on the Board either, for the conflict of interest reasons John mentioned. It's not only difficult to fire a coach who sits on your Board, but near impossible to craft policy that may seek to define coaching duties, responsibilities and compensation.

by **UMD Lax** on Mon Aug 21, 2006 9:51 am

We are hired by the school. Each year we have to fill out a new application and notify the school the amount that the coaches are being paid. This amount is agreed upon between the players (captains) and the coaches. They typically split the amount into two payments (½ at the beginning and the other ½ at the end of the season). We deposit all of our dues and fundraiser money into our own school account. They just pull the money from that account when they pay us.

When we were looking for a new Head Coach last year, I originally interviewed with all the candidates. Once we narrowed it down to one candidate, the Athletic Director would also interview with that person and give us his feedback. The final decision is the team’s responsibility.

As for hiring Assistant Coaches, the school would typically allow the Head Coach and players to make these selections.